Russell Howard’s Wonderbox

Did Linford Christie take part in the Dad’s race at his kids’s school sports day?   Russell and Linford discuss what it’s like to be bloody quick, what it’s like to win an Olympic gold medal, and why Linford used to growl like a tiger at his competitors on the starting blocks.   It’s a really interesting and intimate chat with a British legend, seeing a side to him that we rarely get to see.   It’s really worth watching the documentary all about Linford’s career and life. It’s called simply ‘Linford’, which is on BBC iPlayer, or if you’re abroad it’s on iPlayer with a VPN (wink wink). It really tells the story well, with fascinating insights and at times it gets pretty emotional.   You don’t need me to give you a link to iPlayer. If you can’t find that with a search engine then you deserve to have your internet taken away from you.   Russell is back out on the road doing all sorts of bits and bobs, with Canada coming up, also Sweden, Norway…check out his movements at Russell-howard.co.uk   That’s all for this week. I’m off for a quick 13 minute nap. That’s the golden number apparently for efficient napping. I’ll let you know how it goes.   Goodbye for now, old friend.     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music

US Comedy superstar Michelle Wolf is with us!  And as well as effortlessly funny, Michelle is a wonderful big bag of fascinating contradictions. She's a glamorous comedy star who runs ultramarathons and attends Paris Fashion Week. She also can't think of anything better than getting a hot Wigan-style pie in her hands and face. Seriously mate. You haven't heard love until you've heard Michelle Wolf talk about pies.  It's an absolute romp of an episode; a globe-trotting special covering Michelle's adopted home of Barcelona, her worries for the future of America (seems legit) and a good twenty-minute ode to the British Pie.    Now listen and listen good. If you get the chance to see Michelle live, you've got to take it. One of the very best comedians on the planet, and some of the most insightful and funny material out there. She's written some of your favourite jokes of other big comics. So have a wander through her website, and find out when she's in your country then go see her live. You'll hunt me down and thank me for the  tip off.  Russell is doin' the do in Canada. He's speakin' the speak in Scandanavia. By which I mean performing his tour show. That's all coming up in the next few months. So get yourself some plane tickets and make a holiday of it. Tickets and dates are all here. It's guaranteed to be both cheaper and funnier than Oasis.   If you're here next week then we'll be here next week.   Slay.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music

Is this simultaneously the most uplifting and heart-rending episode we've done to date?    Matt Forde is Britain's foremost political comedian. Until the end of last year he seemed unstoppable, then from nowhere was diagnosed with a rare condition that saw him having to go through life-saving surgery.    His story is astonishing and it's told with such verve, such humour and humanity that it's required listening. Make a little bit of time to consume this one properly because it will touch every part of your heart. And make you laugh a lot too.    Matt is now well on the road to recovery...and on the road! He's touring his show 'End of an Era' around the UK. It summarises the last few years of British politics taking in Truss, Sunak and having a good poke at the current Labour Party as well. I saw it in Edinburgh and it's well worth your time. Proper good stuff.  Find out where, when, how and why Matt is by going to 🎟️  https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows  🎟️   See you next week for more delicious Wonderbox.         Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music

Live from the Edinburgh Festival! Irish story-telling powerhouse and ignorer-of-the-basic-format Jason Byrne is with Russell and a packed out audience at the Fringe.   Jason is famous for his sprawling, gregarious, infectious irrepressible comedy and this podcast is no different. Who cares that he ignored the idea of the Wonderbox completely? It was a huge slice of fun.   Stories of rural Irish madness abound. I’d mention specifics here but you wouldn’t believe me. Get it in your ears because it’s a crazy old bunch of stories!   Jason’s at the Fringe (I mean - when is he not?) doing his show, which is called ‘No Show’. It’s on every day at Assembly Main Hall (a lovely room) at 8:40pm until the end of the Fringe. Check it - LINK.   It’s then getting the full tour treatment, Jason will be barrelling into a town near you with this show No Show. All dem tickets, all dem dates, all dem deets, all dem be here.   Ta ta x   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music

Live from the Edinburgh Festival! Recorded in front of a beautiful audience at the Fringe, Russell goes through the Wonderbox of the exquisite Scottish stand-up, Larry Dean! This podcast goes from the serenity of the hills of Bhutan, to tender intergenerational moments of true connection, to a terrifying home-made nightmare of a sex doll.  If you’re a regular listener, you’ll notice that the live audience really adds a bit of spice to the occasion, and despite our afternoon time-slot, the show really goes the extra mile. It’s a bit filthier, a bit funnier. Get in there. Larry continues to perform his show Dodger until the end of the Fringe. It’s on every day at Monkey Barrel at 8:30pm and one can acquire tickets here.   For those of you who refuse to be blackmailed by Edinburgh tenancy companies and wait for the best shows to come to you, well you’re in luck. Larry will be touring the show around the UK in the months after August. Visit larrydeancomedy.com for all the information and to get yo tickets.   In other news…   Canucks and Scandos, get ready for some Russell stand-up shows flying at you like a rocket (a rocket full of mad good comedy show). Find out what the hell I’m talking about HERE. But only click if you’re in Canada or Scandinavia. The link is rigged to blow your phone up in your hand if you’re not geolocated in one of those spots. I might be bluffing. But do you really want to take that risk?   Enough blither. Until next time, padawan.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music